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Home / News / The 4 Best Hiking Boots of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter
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The 4 Best Hiking Boots of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

Oct 20, 2024Oct 20, 2024

By Jenni Gritters and Ebony Roberts

We’ve completed a new round of testing and added the Zamberlan Salathe Trek and Circe to our list of other boots worth considering.

Whether you’re going on a day hike with friends or tackling an ambitious backpacking route, you need a good pair of hiking boots to protect your feet and stabilize your ankles.

Over seven years, we’ve worn 59 pairs of hiking boots while trekking more than 1,600 miles and taking some 2 million steps across all types of terrain.

We chose the Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s) as the best hiking boots. They are breathable and waterproof, and they provide solid traction and support.

These boots also have several essential features—including a wide toe box, sturdy heel protection, and a gusseted tongue—that allowed us to hike comfortably for miles.

These versatile boots offer trustworthy traction, top-notch cushioning, and the widest toe box of any that we tested. Though they’re best suited for longer treks with heavier packs, they are comfortable to wear on hikes of any length.

These versatile boots offer trustworthy traction, top-notch cushioning, and the widest toe box of any boots we tested. Though they’re best suited for longer treks with heavier packs, they are comfortable to wear on hikes of any length.

These lower-priced boots are a reliable choice for people who plan to hike short distances and for those with wider feet.

These lower-priced boots are a reliable choice for people who plan to hike short distances and for those with wider feet.

These flexible, lightweight hiking boots work well on many different types of terrain, and they last over time. They do run narrow, though, and take longer to break in than our top pick.

These flexible, lightweight hiking boots work well on many different types of terrain, and they last over time. They do run narrow, though, and they take longer to break in than our top pick.

(deal on burgundy)

These ultra-comfy hiking boots are the lightest of our picks. They have a customizable fit, due to a well-thought-out lacing system. However, the pillowy foam can reduce ground feel too much for some people.

You save $85 (46%)

These ultra-comfy hiking boots are the lightest of our picks. They have a customizable fit, due to a well-thought-out lacing system. However, the pillowy foam can reduce ground feel too much for some people.

(deal on purple and berry)

Our testers hiked 1,600 miles and took more than 2 million steps.

Wearing these boots, we trekked through Iceland, Indonesia, China, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, and 13 US states.

We chose boots that kept our feet dry while we hiked in snow and rain, as well as when we trekked along creeks, lakes, and waterfalls.

We enlisted more than 25 testers to help us choose boots in a variety of fits.

These versatile boots offer trustworthy traction, top-notch cushioning, and the widest toe box of any that we tested. Though they’re best suited for longer treks with heavier packs, they are comfortable to wear on hikes of any length.

These versatile boots offer trustworthy traction, top-notch cushioning, and the widest toe box of any boots we tested. Though they’re best suited for longer treks with heavier packs, they are comfortable to wear on hikes of any length.

Salomon’s Quest 4 Gore-Tex Hiking Boots (in men’s and women’s) offer ample toe and heel protection, solid traction and support, and a gusseted tongue. Made with breathable, waterproof materials, these boots also have a flexible midfoot plate, which makes flexing your foot a bit easier.

Updated in 2022, the newest Quest boots took slightly longer to break in than the previous model, but they also had the widest toe box of any of the boots we tested. So these boots are likely to fit most foot shapes right out of the box.

The Quest boots are fairly bulky, so they’re best for someone carrying a heavy pack or a kid on their back. Despite their clunkiness, though, these boots are surprisingly comfortable on shorter hikes.

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These lower-priced boots are a reliable choice for people who plan to hike short distances and for those with wider feet.

These lower-priced boots are a reliable choice for people who plan to hike short distances and for those with wider feet.

Merrell’s Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (in men’s and women’s) are a no-frills, trustworthy option for hikers on a budget. These boots have been one of our picks for seven years, and each time we test them, we find them to be a good fit in all the ways that count.

The Moab boots are waterproof, though not for an extended period of time as our other picks are. They provide decent ankle support for moderate-length hikes, and they’re easy to lace and fairly breathable. We found them to be extremely comfortable, too. The shock absorption and contoured foot bed make a noticeable difference in preventing sore feet, especially on longer treks.

If you have wider feet, you may appreciate that the Moab boots come in both regular and wide widths, and even the regular width is wider than that of our other picks.

These flexible, lightweight hiking boots work well on many different types of terrain, and they last over time. They do run narrow, though, and take longer to break in than our top pick.

These flexible, lightweight hiking boots work well on many different types of terrain, and they last over time. They do run narrow, though, and they take longer to break in than our top pick.

(deal on burgundy)

We’ve tested the Vasque Breeze Waterproof Hiking Boots many times over the past few years, and we’ve found the most recent iteration to be the best yet. These boots (in men’s and women’s) offer the most flexible fit we found, along with the ankle support for you to carry a heavy pack, if you wish.

Though it takes about 10 miles to fully break these boots in, they seemed to get better with wear in our tests. In addition to their substantial underfoot support, the boots’ lighter weight (just over 2 pounds per pair) was especially noticeable after our longer hikes, when we found that our legs and feet were less sore than we expected.

The only downside, besides the break-in time, is that these boots run narrow all the way up the ankle; several of our testers ended up with hot spots there. We recommend ordering at least a half-size up from your street-shoe size.

These ultra-comfy hiking boots are the lightest of our picks. They have a customizable fit, due to a well-thought-out lacing system. However, the pillowy foam can reduce ground feel too much for some people.

You save $85 (46%)

These ultra-comfy hiking boots are the lightest of our picks. They have a customizable fit, due to a well-thought-out lacing system. However, the pillowy foam can reduce ground feel too much for some people.

(deal on purple and berry)

At less than 2 pounds a pair, Hoka’s Trail Code GTX Lightweight Hiker boots (in men’s and women’s sizes) are the lightest of our picks. They’re also breathable and made with mostly recycled materials. They offer superior underfoot support while maintaining stability too, though the pillowy underfoot characteristic of Hoka footwear can be an acquired taste.

Of all the boots we’ve tried in the past three years, the Trail Code boots have the best lacing system—with ideally placed hooks, easy-to-thread laces, and a high enough ankle to keep your foot locked in even when you’re carrying a heavy pack. This lacing system allows you to customize the fit, which is already quite comfortable, right out of the box. You can also opt not to lace your ankles, if you have a lighter pack or you’re hiking on flat terrain. Hoka footwear tends to run big, so we recommend ordering a half-size down from your regular street shoe. Because of their marshmallow-like underfoot support, however, these boots are polarizing. You’ll either love the fit or hate it, so be sure to try these boots on before you buy.

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Journalist Jenni Gritters, who has been working on this guide since 2018, has edited dozens of Wirecutter guides for the outdoor, travel, sleep, and babies-and-kids sections. She has also written for The New York Times, Outside, Slate, Reviewed, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Gear Patrol.

For this guide:

Whether you’re just starting your hiking journey with local day hikes, or you’re planning a one-month thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, you need a pair of good hiking boots that provide over-the-ankle support.

Sure, you can tromp through the woods in many different types of shoes, including hiking shoes or trail-running shoes, but if you’re carrying weight on your back, you need that extra support to remain stable.

We have options for various foot shapes. Our picks will likely work for you, regardless of whether you pronate (walk on the insides of your feet) or supinate (walk on the outsides of your feet), and all of the picks here should accommodate high or fallen arches.

Everyone’s feet are unique, however. To hike comfortably and safely, it’s essential that you find the right boot fit. We encourage you to read this whole guide—including our list of other boots worth considering—with your foot shape and terrain plans in mind. And if the first few pairs you try on don’t feel secure and supportive on your feet, we urge you to try more.

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Most hiking boots look like this:

Even so, there are many things that distinguish a truly great hiking boot from the rest. Since 2017, we’ve considered over 200 pairs of boots, tested 59 pairs, and spoken with many experts about the most important qualities to look for. Those qualities include:

Throughout the years, dozens of testers have helped with this guide, hiking over 1,600 miles and taking more than 2 million steps. We’ve taken boots all over the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), as well as to Iceland, Indonesia, China, New Zealand, Canada, and Mexico, and we’ve tackled loose gravel, groomed trails, and brush. Our testers have schlepped through mud, splashed in water, scampered up steep inclines, and slid on snow.

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These versatile boots offer trustworthy traction, top-notch cushioning, and the widest toe box of any that we tested. Though they’re best suited for longer treks with heavier packs, they are comfortable to wear on hikes of any length.

These versatile boots offer trustworthy traction, top-notch cushioning, and the widest toe box of any boots we tested. Though they’re best suited for longer treks with heavier packs, they are comfortable to wear on hikes of any length.

The Salomon Quest Gore-Tex Hiking Boots (in men’s and women’s sizes) have been our top pick since we first began testing hiking boots, in 2018.

They offer excellent traction on varied terrain. In testing three versions of the Quest boots, our testers have crossed glaciers, braved steep trails, and climbed rocky terrain, and they’ve waded through streams, navigated late-spring snow, and slopped through knee-deep mud. And because we’ve tried nearly everything, we can confidently make the following promise: Whether you’re scrambling, climbing, or walking down a paved sidewalk, these boots, with their stellar construction, can handle it.

Instead of the commonly used Vibram outsole, the Quest pair’s lugs are made with Contagrip rubber, which we’ve found to be just as good. In 2021, the company added stability and heel support to the base of the boots. Although they still feel just as flexible in the foot, these boots are now more rigid around the ankle, so they’re perfect for backpacking trips with heavy packs, when you need the extra support.

They fit most foot shapes. Multiple testers, with a mix of wide and narrow feet, found these boots to be comfortable for their particular foot shape. That’s likely thanks to the boots’ roomy toe box. We could wiggle our toes, but our feet still felt supported. One tester who had plantar fasciitis even found that he could comfortably wear the Quest boots without his usual insoles. We found these boots to be slightly wider through the foot than other pairs we tested. (If you have very wide feet, however, we recommend our budget pick, the Merrell Moab 3 boots.) The Quest boots fit true to size.

They’re supportive, but they don’t feel too heavy. Of all the boots we tried, this pair had the best underfoot protection, due to a midsole made with EVA foam for cushioning and an under-arch shank for added stability. If you struggle with aching feet or carry a heavy pack (or a child), this added support should allow you to go a few extra miles without experiencing foot pain. But compared with many other traditional hiking boots, these boots didn’t feel overbuilt on the trail, even on a shorter day hike. The uppers hug the tops of the feet without feeling compressive, which we very much appreciated on longer hikes.

They protect your toes. After we completed a long, challenging hike, our feet felt far less sore wearing these boots in comparison with most of the other ones we tested. We could still sense the ground enough to navigate properly, but the many rocks we encountered didn’t cause sore toes. And if you tend to stub your toes, you’ll also be grateful that the Contagrip rubber outsole extends to offer toe and heel protection.

They’re breathable but not leaky. The Quest boots strike that ideal balance of being both breathable and waterproof—a combination that can be tough to find. They didn’t leak, even after we took muddy, puddle-heavy walks along the shores of New Zealand’s alpine lakes. They’re also easy to clean, as dirt and mud wipe right off.

They last for years. Even after multiple seasons of use—including in the snow and the heat, in both Oregon and California—the Quest boots have remained comfortable and well ventilated. The waterproofing appears to be durable, too. If you do discover a problem early on, Salomon offers a 30-day return policy for clean gear and a two-year warranty covering manufacturing defects. But we recommend buying through REI or Zappos due to those retailers’ excellent, less-restrictive return policies for online purchases. (As of 2023, REI’s one-year return policy is limited to REI Co-op members; non-members have 90 days.)

These lower-priced boots are a reliable choice for people who plan to hike short distances and for those with wider feet.

These lower-priced boots are a reliable choice for people who plan to hike short distances and for those with wider feet.

For seven years and counting, we’ve been recommending the Merrell Moab Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (in men’s and women’s sizes) to hikers.

These are the best boots for wide feet. The Moab boots come in two widths, which isn’t the case for most of the boots we tested (including our top pick). Even the regular-width model is significantly wider than our other picks’ regular-width options.

They’re inexpensive but still well made. Although these boots are the least expensive of our picks, they are still sturdy, waterproof, and fairly breathable. They offer high-quality underfoot protection, and they’re capable of handling day hikes and backpacking trips. In fact, the Moab 3 boots offered the best breathability we could find in a pair costing $150 or less, and that’s probably due to their smartly placed mesh panels. (Even so, they weren’t as well ventilated as the Salomon Quest pair or the Vasque Breeze boots.) Merrell allows free returns on unused items for up to 30 days; again, we recommend buying from REI or Zappos.

They’re stable and comfortable to wear on all terrain. A newly contoured footbed (as of 2022) and reinforced heel cushion provide an extremely comfortable step—the Moab 3 boots feel broken-in right out of the box. The company also added extra shock absorption to the midfoot plates; along with the Vibram outsole, this feature protects toes against rocks and roots. The boots weigh a middle-of-the-road 2 pounds 4 ounces per pair (depending on sizing).

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These flexible, lightweight hiking boots work well on many different types of terrain, and they last over time. They do run narrow, though, and take longer to break in than our top pick.

These flexible, lightweight hiking boots work well on many different types of terrain, and they last over time. They do run narrow, though, and they take longer to break in than our top pick.

(deal on burgundy)

The Vasque Breeze Waterproof Hiking Boot (in men’s and women’s sizes) combines a flexible, comfortable midfoot with the ankle support necessary for hiking with a heavy pack.

They’re light, and they’re the most flexible boots we tested. Weighing about 2 pounds 2 ounces a pair (depending on the size), the Breeze boots rank among the lightest boots we tested, second only to the Hoka Trail Code boots. The benefit: You can move quickly over varied terrain. Jenni especially noticed the flexibility while driving and getting her kids ready for a hike.

They’re supportive, comfortable, and stable. With many of the competitors we tested, more flexibility and lighter weight meant less stability and comfort, but not so with the Breeze boots. The EVA foam under the midsole and footbed felt supportive, and the proprietary outsoles were grippy on wet, muddy, and dusty terrain. The Hoka Trail Code boots are similarly light, but they are more pillowy underfoot; choose the Breeze boots if you prefer being able to feel the ground more thoroughly. As with our top pick, fully breaking in the Breeze boots takes about 10 miles. But if you can tough it out, we think you’ll find—as we have—that these boots get better the longer you wear them. For several of our testers, the combination of a light, comfortable fit with a supportive ankle and sole made the Breeze boots, once broken in, their go-to option, regardless of the temperature or terrain. This was true even when we presented our testers with many other boots.

They’re waterproof, breathable, and durable. We tested the Breeze boots in desert and snowy climates, as well as on rainy mountain hikes, and our feet stayed warm and dry but never got too sweaty.

These ultra-comfy hiking boots are the lightest of our picks. They have a customizable fit, due to a well-thought-out lacing system. However, the pillowy foam can reduce ground feel too much for some people.

You save $85 (46%)

These ultra-comfy hiking boots are the lightest of our picks. They have a customizable fit, due to a well-thought-out lacing system. However, the pillowy foam can reduce ground feel too much for some people.

(deal on purple and berry)

The Hoka Trail Code GTX Lightweight Hiker (in men’s and women’s sizes) is a well-rounded, lightweight boot for hikers who love an especially cushioned fit.

They’re lightweight. At less than 2 pounds a pair, the Trail Code boots are the lightest of our picks.

They’re pillowy but still stable. Hoka boots are known for their stacked underfoot support, which people often compare to a marshmallow. This fit can be polarizing, which is why we suggest trying these boots on before you order. Though the Trail Code design is less pillowy than that of the Hoka Anacapa 2, it’s still well cushioned, with thick EVA foam laid across the midsole. The result is comfort without the loss of stability.

They’re the most breathable of our picks, yet they’re still waterproof. On a hot day, these are the boots we’d wear, due to the mesh upper, which extends along the top of the shoe as well as along the sides. Somehow, the Trail Code boots maintain solid waterproofing as well, with a Gore-Tex bootie (instead of just a liner) that keeps water out while letting air in. Nearly all of the fabric on these boots is made from recycled polyester.

The lacing system is easy to adjust. For anyone who is used to standing closer to the ground, having a lot of underfoot support can be disconcerting. But Hoka’s well-designed lacing system lets you tightly lock your ankle and upper foot into the boot, so you don’t roll from side to side (a major worry that comes with added height).

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If you’re looking for an all-leather boot to wear around town: Consider the stylish Danner Mountain 600 hiking boots (in men’s and women’s sizes). Since they’re made of suede, these boots take longer to break in (about 10 to 20 miles) than some of the others we’ve tested. But once they are broken in, they mold to your feet. We also tried the Mountain 600 EVO boots (men’s and women’s), an upgraded version, and found them to be similarly stylish, although with a long break-in time; the 600 EVO pair has a few superior additions as well, including better waterproofing and grippier Vibram soles. If you find the Mountain 600 boots attractive, we recommend that you try them on before you buy, and we suggest ordering in your street-shoe size, rather than sizing up. Overall, we thought these boots were less appealing for actual hiking—and definitely not a fit for backpacking or mountaineering adventures—because they were rigid, prone to causing hot spots, and less breathable than our picks.

If the Vasque Breeze and Hoka Trail Code boots are sold out: La Sportiva’s Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Boots (in men’s and women’s sizes) offer the same flexible setup as a running shoe but have added toe protection and a slightly longer break-in time. As of fall 2024, the Ultra Raptor boots are undergoing a quick remodel to improve the upper and membrane; you may need to search for them at several retailers, but we expect them to return soon. (We’ll also test the newest update.) The previous version of this boot, the Raptor, was a pick, but the latest model failed to maintain its support as well as the Vasque Breeze boots did over a year of testing; the Breeze boots were also more breathable. The Ultra Raptor pair runs small in length, so you should order a half-size to a full size up from your street-shoe size. All La Sportiva boots are generally narrow, but like the Merrell Moab boots, the Ultra Raptor boots come in medium-wide and wide options.

If you hike in colder temperatures: Consider the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots (in men’s and women’s sizes), which have less ventilation than our picks. In our tests, they provided excellent traction, even over loose rocks, and they offered good ankle support for carrying a heavy pack. The lacing system locked our heels in place too, and the tongue came up high enough to prevent dirt from entering. In the end, these Lowa boots fell short of our picks because their all-leather upper and insulated insoles made our feet too warm in hot weather. Multiple testers also reported that the Lowa boots were stiff out of the box and required a lot of breaking in.

If you want a mold-to-your-foot fit: Zamberlan’s Salathe Trek GTX RR (men’s) and comparable Circe GTX (women’s) boots offered one of the most comfortable boot experiences Jenni has had in years. (And she’s been testing boots for this guide since 2018!) Both models feel especially lightweight and have a soft, breathable upper with an elastic tongue that feels supple and immediately molds to your foot. Matched with that lightweight upper is a Vibram outsole that doesn’t slip, no matter the terrain. The outcome is a stable, comfortable hiking boot that you’ll forget you have on your feet. The only downside is that the ankle on the Circe is a bit low, making it less than ideal if you’re carrying a heavy pack. These boots are not as pillowy as the Hoka boots or as flexible as our pick from Vasque; these feel like traditional hiking boots, but with a comfortable and unique foam we’ve never experienced in the dozens of other boots we’ve tried. Overall, these Italian hiking boots are worth taking a look at, if you can swing the price, though we should note that the men’s sizes are more expensive than the women’s sizes, even though the materials and performance are very comparable. We’re impressed with the early performance of this boot. This brand is, however, a newer addition to our testing, so we’ll continue to give the mold-to-your foot foam an extended test over the year to assess how it performs over a longer term, and we’ll report back.

Keen Targhee III Waterproof Mid Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s): We found these boots to be too narrow in the toe box and unlikely to accommodate most foot shapes. After we took a 6-mile hike on rooted ground, our feet were aching, which suggested that the boots offered limited underfoot support. Keen recently updated these boots to the IV version, which we have yet to try.

Keen Circadia Waterproof Boot (men’s and women’s): For anyone who plans to carry a heavy pack or a child often, these lower-cost boots may be worth considering for their strong ankle support, well-protected toe box, and simple lacing system, which helps keep the boots tight. But they’re lined with fleece and not very breathable, and they run big.

Keen Zionic Waterproof Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s): Keen’s newest hiking boots feel—and look—like running shoes with ankle support, but their light weight comes at the cost of underfoot support. We felt unstable hiking across rocks and roots because the laces tended to loosen; after a few miles, our feet ached.

La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike GTX (men’s and women’s): This company’s boots can have a narrow fit, and the Aequilibrium boots were the narrowest we tried. They’re tough to get your foot into, with an especially rigid and high ankle, and the rigidity carries into a too-hard underfoot plate. Despite a long break-in time of 10-plus miles, the boots’ traction is superior to that of many other boots we’ve tested, and their rigidity keeps your feet particularly well protected from water, roots, and anything else you might come across. But they are lacking in breathability and feel heavier than expected. These boots are also experiencing some stock issues; we’ve frequently seen them run out.

Salomon Cross Hike 2 Mid Gore-Tex (men’s and women’s): Fitting like a rigid trail runner that lands slightly below the ankle bone, these boots don’t provide the necessary ankle stability for hikers carrying heavy packs. We don’t think most people need this level of traction without ankle support. The Cross Hike pair’s lacing system, which cinches down with a pulley, can be tough to secure tightly.

Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s): Overbuilt for most day hikers, these boots ran quite big around the ankles in our tests. Despite tight lacing, the boots loosened up during a 5-mile hike, and we ended our hike with debris in our shoes and blisters. Also, the mesh upper creased across the top of the foot, which caused bruising for one tester. We’ll try the X Ultra 5, which launches in early 2025, when that’s available.

Salomon Elixir Activ Mid Gore-Tex (men’s and women’s): These trail-runner-style boots run large (be sure to size down a full size from your street shoe) and lack underfoot and over-foot protection. They’re lighter than our pick and have little to no break-in time, and their wide toe box provides a fit that may work for more foot types, as with our top pick. However, during a wet hike, we ended up with wet toes, with water soaking through the breathable but porous upper material.

Salomon Elixir Mid Gore-Tex (men’s and women’s): These Hoka-esque boots from Salomon are bulkier than their Activ counterparts—they look like moon boots. After just 3 miles, Jenni’s feet started to ache badly. Because of the lack of any trail feel, she kept tripping, and their breathability left much to be desired. The next morning, her feet were killing her.

Oboz Bridger Mid Waterproof (men’s and women’s): All of our testers reported feeling stable in these boots, even in the slipperiest conditions. However, they also noted that these boots were too hot for midsummer hiking.

Oboz Sypes Mid Leather Waterproof (men’s and women’s): These boots had a longer break-in time than most of the others we tried. They also lacked the ankle support we needed, and their breathability was subpar.

Oboz Katabatic Mid (men’s and women’s): These boots ran narrow—even more so than the Vasque Breeze boots—and multiple testers complained that the upper pinched the tops of their toes when they walked. At the same time, the ankles were boxy and let in trail debris.

Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s): Made with leather, these boots are hard to clean and less breathable than the other boots we tested, especially on hot days. If you want a leather boot, we suggest going with the Danner Mountain 600.

Topo Athletic Trailventure 2 WP (men’s and women’s): These boots are nearly as expensive as many of our picks, but their mesh upper wrinkled as our testers bent their feet, a sign of cheaper materials and blisters to come. They’re also not as breathable as our picks, though they’re built on a running-shoe last.

Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX Boots (men’s and women’s): These polarizing boots have an unusual build that makes them feel more like a moon boot than a traditional hiking boot; our testers compared hiking in them to walking on a Tempur-Pedic mattress. The EVA foam underfoot doesn’t allow for much ground feel, which can be disconcerting, though we didn’t actually slip or trip at any point. If you want that cushy step but with better ground feel, we suggest the Hoka Trail Code boots.

We previously tested and dismissed the Decathlon Quechua MH500 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s), which are currently almost out of stock. In search of a hiking boot under $100, we ordered these boots, but we were disappointed by the cheap, thin materials. They caused blisters for both testers and weren’t breathable. The waterproofing wasn’t foolproof, either, and the underfoot panels had very little foam. Also, their price has since risen to just over $100.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

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Jim McDannald, residency-trained podiatrist and founder of the consultancy Podiatry Growth, phone interview, August 31, 2017

Mark San Buenaventura, footwear designer for The North Face, email interview, June 21, 2017

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Comfort:Support:Traction:Protection:Water resistance:Breathability:Solid construction:Durability:They offer excellent traction on varied terrain.They fit most foot shapes.They’re supportive, but they don’t feel too heavy.They protect your toes.They’re breathable but not leaky.They last for years.These are the best boots for wide feet.They’re inexpensive but still well made.They’re stable and comfortable to wear on all terrain.They’re light, and they’re the most flexible boots we tested.They’re supportive, comfortable, and stable.They’re waterproof, breathable, and durable.They’re lightweight. They’re pillowy but still stable.They’re the most breathable of our picks, yet they’re still waterproof.The lacing system is easy to adjust.If you’re looking for an all-leather boot to wear around town:If the Vasque Breeze and Hoka Trail Code boots are sold out:If you hike in colder temperatures:If you want a mold-to-your-foot fit: Keen Targhee III Waterproof Mid Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s):Keen Circadia Waterproof Boot (men’s and women’s):Keen Zionic Waterproof Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s):La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike GTX (men’s and women’s):Salomon Cross Hike 2 Mid Gore-Tex (men’s and women’s):Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s):Salomon Elixir Activ Mid Gore-Tex (men’s and women’s):Salomon Elixir Mid Gore-Tex (men’s and women’s):Oboz Bridger Mid Waterproof (men’s and women’s):Oboz Sypes Mid Leather Waterproof (men’s and women’s):Oboz Katabatic Mid (men’s and women’s):Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s):Topo Athletic Trailventure 2 WP (men’s and women’s): Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX Boots (men’s and women’s):Decathlon Quechua MH500 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots